DPRD speaker sentenced for graft

DPRD speaker sentenced for graft

KALIANDA, Lampung: The Kalianda District Court sentenced on
Wednesday Muaz Munziri, the speaker of the Tanggamus regental
council, to 18 months in prison for graft.

According to the panel of judges, the defendant was proven
guilty of embezzling Rp 1.1 billion (US$129,412) belonging to a
farmers' cooperative in the regency.

The sentence was much heavier than the eight-month sentence
sought by the prosecution.

The judges said Muaz deserved a heavier sentence because not
only had he embezzled money, he had also impeded a government
program to help farmers improve their welfare. -- JP